tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post5582843685095933785..comments2024-03-24T18:43:18.706-04:00Comments on Darwinfish 2: Ratbird Apocalypsebluzdudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-70080770067284662352013-02-08T18:16:42.456-05:002013-02-08T18:16:42.456-05:00Everything the Ravens do wrong, the Brownies did f...Everything the Ravens do wrong, the Brownies did first. And then they broke their city’s heart… a city that actually supported the team! The locals here always moan about losing the Colts, but at the time, they were not selling out the stadium like Cleveland was. (And the Browns had a larger and much uglier stadium, too. It held almost 80 thousand people!) <br /> <br />But I agree… when the current Browns start winning games, then they might become a real rival again. But they’ve had such constant turnover both in management and ownership, it’s no wonder they still haven’t gotten their act together.<br /> <br />And oh, I’m just loving hockey season so far. Let’s Go Pens!<br />bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-47677322909450256132013-02-08T14:42:35.730-05:002013-02-08T14:42:35.730-05:00Thank you for solidifying for me why I dislike Rav...Thank you for solidifying for me why I dislike Ravens so much. Still can't recall the bitter rivalry feelings for the current Brownies.<br /><br />Let's go, Pens!red pen mamahttp://redpenmamapgh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-41717925733860322152013-02-07T17:56:24.600-05:002013-02-07T17:56:24.600-05:00Whole thing? What whole thing? Football? The Ra...Whole thing? What whole thing? Football? The Ravens winning? Birds in general?bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-26239635060348944112013-02-07T17:56:00.343-05:002013-02-07T17:56:00.343-05:00You should check out the supplementary links, wher...You should check out the supplementary links, where I spell out specifically why I feel the way I do. Like I said, it’s not arbitrary. I react to what I personally observe and what has happened directly to me.<br /><br />Besides, it’s the rivalry that makes it fun. Every hero has to have an enemy, no matter whose side you’re on.<br /><br />If you’ll look, I never said anything about the parade, other than how I wouldn’t be caught dead there, (any more than you would be caught dead at a Steelers parade.) It is too bad that they couldn’t figure out a way to get the team to the starting point on time. A couple of my team members at work went down there, but came back after standing around in the cold for an hour with nothing to see.<br /><br />I can admit that with Lewis retiring, it makes the Ratties a bit less hate-worthy. There ARE certain players I like and admire, and would have on my team any day. Ray Rice is incredible. Anquan Boldin is a total beast, who almost always comes down with the ball. (He reminds me of Hines.) Haloti Ngata is a freak of nature, who is probably the best nose tackle in the game, when he’s healthy. Flacco? Good guy and a good QB, although he better think hard about how much of a contract he demands. He’s got to leave enough on the table so that some of his teammates can be retained too. It won’t be much fun to be a $100 million dollar QB on a 6-10 team. And Steve Bischotti seems to be a good guy, who cares about his team and his city. I have no quibble with him at all.<br /><br />BUT, until they stop with the bush league in-stadium slights (that they brought with them from Cleveland), and take fan on fan violence seriously, (other than just throwing out whoever is not wearing Ravens gear), they will never earn my respect. You want to see what I’m talking about? Try wearing an opposing jersey to a Ravens game… any jersey. Then you’ll see how your good-hearted Baltimoreans really treat people.<br /><br />I’ve seen 13 football games in Pittsburgh and in all my years, I’ve seen exactly one fight. And that was yinzer on yinzer violence... As Security was escorting a guy out for having a flask, he dove on the guy that ratted him out and started swinging. I was kind of bummed about the whole thing, because the guy had given me a couple of swigs. <br /><br />I’ve been to games all over the country as an opposing fan and have never been treated as shabbily as I routinely was down at that purple toilet. Some people earn poor treatment because they act like idiots, but I do absolutely nothing to become a target, other than by just <i>being there</i> in a Steeler jersey. <br /><br />Lastly, thanks for your comment. Feel absolutely free to comment any time. It’s just football. Too bad we didn’t have a lunch bet on the game… you’d have made out. (Of course if I was actually placing bets on the game, I would have bet on the Ravens and taken the points. I can totally separate who I <i>want</i> to win from who I <i>think</i> will win.)<br />bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-11196736964729873252013-02-07T12:59:28.768-05:002013-02-07T12:59:28.768-05:00I thought about the six trophies in your header as...I thought about the six trophies in your header as I was watching the Ravens win, I'll admit. I also thought about what you've written about Ray Lewis. You ruined the whole thing for me. Unapologetically Mundanehttp://www.unapologeticallymundane.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-40730193693640273392013-02-07T10:03:09.305-05:002013-02-07T10:03:09.305-05:00Wow. Quite the vitriolic diatribe there, Bluz. Y...Wow. Quite the vitriolic diatribe there, Bluz. You might need to let that hatred go a bit. <br /><br />I am a fan. I am a true blue Baltimorian (not really, but I work here), and I have always had pride in my hometown teams. I think a lot of what you say about the "ratbirds" as you call them, could similarly be said about most, if not all other teams. Including your Steelers. Teams are made up of people and are played in cities made up of people. All human. Every single one has faults and makes mistakes. Whether it's saying something dumb in the media, having an opinion you don't agree with, committing some kind of crime (whether obstruction of justice - Ray, or possible sexual assault - Ben) which then taints the team around them as "criminals," incidents in stadiums/city celebrations/rioting in the streets which is shameful and unnecessary, but happens in every single city at some point by over-exuberant fans. This is the world of football.<br /><br />This is your blog, and obviously you HATE the Ravens and have mentioned it many times. I don't usually comment on these posts, because we have differing views on this subject. I will not convince you to love the Ravens, and you will never convince me to love the Steelers. It's just how that goes. We have very similar views on a lot of topics, but this is one in which we will always disagree.<br /><br />But I went to the parade. I saw the excited fans and the general spirit of revelry that this positive event brought to the city. A city which is almost bankrupt. That needs some celebration every once in a while. I was happy to be a fan. And still am. No, I am not a huge Ray fan. I think he is an overly showy, false humility, god card playing kook. But some of the other players and the organization itself is full of good people. Talented people doing their jobs every day, without pointing to the sky every time they have an accomplishment. And Joe deserves to be paid. He is a quality QB. Best in the league? No. But good and deserving of that recognition. <br /><br />Ok, that's enough . . . sorry. This is why I don't usually comment on these posts. We could go back and forth on this for days . . . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-44252197289567187462013-02-06T20:56:29.477-05:002013-02-06T20:56:29.477-05:00Well, as they say, "suffering builds characte...Well, as they say, "suffering builds character." In a month or two, I ought to be loaded with it.bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-85622198226971311842013-02-06T20:54:31.988-05:002013-02-06T20:54:31.988-05:00As soon as it happened, I thought, "Oh man, B...As soon as it happened, I thought, "Oh man, Bluz isn't going to be happy." On to hockey!Jessica R.http://www.leelafish.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-31434132246347264862013-02-06T20:18:46.469-05:002013-02-06T20:18:46.469-05:00Don’t forget, the Ratties also have anti-gay playe...Don’t forget, the Ratties also have anti-gay players, including Matt Birk, who campaigned publicly against Question 6, which legalized gay marriage in Maryland. He just didn’t do it during Super Bowl Week, so the rest of the country never noticed.<br /> <br />Montana may never have kissed his biceps after a score, but he did show up on that guy’s shirt.<br /> <br />Yes, Beyonce sang live, but I pretty much don’t give a crap. She might be hot and all, but I wouldn’t give you a dime for her music. I still think they should book AC/DC to play halftime. Not <i>that’s</i> football music.<br /> <br />If I didn’t live in Baltimore, the needle might have moved for me a little further in the Ratbirds direction. But faced with living among these self-celebratory revelers for the next year, I just can’t get there.bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-31592517138622887062013-02-06T11:36:31.844-05:002013-02-06T11:36:31.844-05:00Ugh, I feel sorry for you, being caught in the eye...Ugh, I feel sorry for you, being caught in the eye of the storm and all. Worst. Super Bowl. Ever. And I didn't watch one second of it, not even the halftime show. Did Beyonce actually sing this time? And who's the bigger fraud: someone who gets paid to press 'play' and mime for a minute and a half, or someone who (allegedly) uses deer antler spray to rehab a torn triceps in less than two months when other (legit) players are out for six? <br /><br />Ray, Ray, go away. Well, at least no one ended up dead this time. <br /><br />The sad part is I'm actually happy the Rats won. No, that's not correct. I'm slightly less annoyed than I would be if the Niners had won. Hate to say it, but my Packers fandom played a part in that. Baltimore has some grade-A D-bags: Lewis, Suggs, Joe Flacco who can't stop bitching about getting paid and thinks that awarding his home state the next SB is "retarded". And let's not overlook the fact that the franchise shouldn't exist in the first place. But if Randy Moss had actually won a Super Bowl I might never watch football again. Colin Kaepernick makes me want to vomit. Embarrassing the Pack is one thing; our D couldn't catch a cold. But the whole kissing your bicep thing is such a douche move. (pretty sure Joe Montana never did that and he <b>won</b> 4 SB's) And trademarking it? Why, so you can make money off of being a self-obsessed asshole? "Tebowing" might be annoying as shit, but at least he was giving props to someone else (theology debate aside). <br /><br />Then there's that db who hates gay people and plays for <i>San Francisco</i>. Yeah. That might have been the deal-breaker for me. Moss and Lewis cancel each other out, but when one side has a guy who advocates <b>for</b> gay marriage and the other side has a guy who thinks gay players should stay in the closet? That's what it came down to for me. I'm happy for Brendon Ayanbadejo. And O.J. Brigance. And Ray Rice, kinda. <br /><br />But I would have been much, much happier if the lights stayed off and the game was never finished. Ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-17004777952687236602013-02-05T22:25:36.348-05:002013-02-05T22:25:36.348-05:00He'll get the last laugh when the Niners keep ...He'll get the last laugh when the Niners keep getting back to the Super Bowl. They have a lot of talent.bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-62403696583619001392013-02-05T22:01:35.697-05:002013-02-05T22:01:35.697-05:00So disappointing. My little bro is a huge Niners f...So disappointing. My little bro is a huge Niners fan. Poor lil guy is heartbroken.<br /><br />Hugs!<br /><br />ValerieValeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15463173488099670688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-42337648271441715202013-02-05T20:45:30.944-05:002013-02-05T20:45:30.944-05:00I predict a Super Bowl hangover record of 9-7 next...I predict a Super Bowl hangover record of 9-7 next year.bluzdudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991272670722362652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329507352453931374.post-10513284845796919672013-02-05T19:55:21.249-05:002013-02-05T19:55:21.249-05:00BEAUTY AND THE BEAST the ravens fersure. Yes. W...BEAUTY AND THE BEAST the ravens fersure. Yes. We no longer need to see ray lewis, the BEAST. BEAUTY Flacco continues to make the big bucks.<br />Meanwhile, PENGUINS RULE.Mary Annnoreply@blogger.com